Pag-asa Island: ‘Come hell or high water, this is ours’

Video by FRANCES MANGOSING/edited by RYAN LEAGOGO

PAG-ASA ISLAND — Right in the middle of the disputed Kalayaan Island Group (Spratlys) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), sits an island-village called Pag-asa (Thitu).

The island, located 480 kilometers off southwestern Palawan, is the largest occupied by the Philippines, and the second largest island in the whole of Spratlys. It is the only Philippine-occupied island in the Spratlys that is inhabited by civilians, a population of about 200.

Photos by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net

It could be an ideal destination from the toxic city life: There is fresh air, pristine waters, abundant trees around the island—a picture of serenity.

But there is still so much more to do: The island has limited basic facilities and food limitations, as supplies are ferried from Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Pag-asa is a humble community with a town hall, water and power utilities, health center, elementary school, police station and a military airstrip.

Work for the rehabilitation of the airstrip has been on hold to improve its chances of a favorable ruling at the United Nations for the Philippines’ case against Beijing over the territorial dispute.

Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr., who has been leading the far-flung island for six years, still dreams to turn the island to a tourist destination and fisheries zone.

“Our biggest dream is to have port facilities. We want to transform this into a hub for tourism and fisheries zone,” he said on his recent visit.

The seat of Kalayaan government has two offices — one in Puerto Princesa and another in Pag-asa. An island administrator oversees the island.

When traveling by ship, passengers have to ride a small boat to get to the island because of the absence of a harbor.

Bito-onon said they have set aside a portion of the island should there be investors interested in building a lodge to boost tourism.

Zero crime rate

Bito-onon takes pride that his community has zero crime rate. However, there are poachers.

“Ang mabigat maraming poachers — iba-ibang bansa, makukulit talaga. ‘Yung gusto nilang bungkalin ‘yung giant clams. Mahal pala ‘yun meron P150,000 at nagsa-smuggle din ng pawikan,” he said.

(The biggest problem is the poachers—there are so many of them from different countries and are really pesky. They are after the giant clams. They’re quite expensive as they can fetch up to P150,000, and they also smuggle turtles.)

Neighboring countries have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, but China claims nearly the entire West Philippine Sea.

Way behind

The neighboring countries have developed their claimed areas through the years and the Philippines can only watch.

“You see, six years na akong mayor and they have transformed their garrisons into islands with coconut trees and fruits. Tapos lahat gumagawa ng airports, seaports. That’s my dream six years ago. Sa bagal ko, ano lang ang pondo namin. Hindi ko magawa ng ganung kabilis. Bottom line is nahuhuli ako,” Bito-onon said.

(You see, I have been the mayor here for six years, and the other have transformed their garrisons into island with coconut trees and fruits. They also build airports and seaports. That was my dream six years ago. I am lagging because we don’t have funds. I can’t do it that fast. Bottom line is I am way behind.)

Vietnam and Malaysia have built resorts in their respective islands. China, meanwhile, has a city with a thousand people, and has been developing artificial islands as part of its reclamation activities.

Edsa People Power celebration in Pag-asa

Armed Forces Western Command (Wescom) and local government officials of Palawan visited the island early this week to hold the celebration of Edsa anniversary and the Wescom anniversary.

“We seized the opportunity to commemorate the Edsa revolution because the message of Edsa is very fitting here — the message of change and freedom,” Wescom chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez said.

“Here, there is hope and freedom. And freedom in vigilance against the security threats in the region because if the developments of the claimants’ reefs,” he said.

Residents and soldiers were also treated with a chicken meal from Jollibee. It was also the first time that the fastfood mascot visited the island.

“We are so happy because it is rare that people visit here,” said Jonalyn Abogado, a resident of Pag-asa for two years now.

A gift-giving event was held for soldiers and residents, as well as a Mass, a cultural presentation and parlor games for kids.

Come hell or high water, this is ours

Lopez told the troops stationed in the island to defend the Philippine territory with all their might.

“Hindi natin papabayaan mawala itong territory ng Pilipinas. Come hell or high water, it will remain as such and we will fight until our last breath,” he said in the traditional “talk to men.”

“While it is true that other claimants here destabilized the region, your stay here will sustain here our effective presence na atin ito. Teritoryo ito ng Pilipinas (This is ours. This is Philippine territory),” he added.

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